The Internationalization of ISIS

by Raphael Israeli

An Islamic terrorist movement, ISIS (also dubbed IS or ISIL), has taken advantage of the chaotic "Arab Spring" in Syria and Iraq to declare an Islamic Caliphate wherever it has been able to rise to power. This movement is continuously attempting to extend the territory of its rule. The Egyptian Sinai Peninsula and the Libyan post-Qaddafi desert country have sworn allegiance to the Caliphate and every town that is captured by the fighting forces of ISIS is forced to submit to strict Islamic law. The Caliphate movement is constantly increasing its power and influence. It is not only sustained by the thousands of local recruits, but it is reinforced by many thousands of Muslim minority youth dwelling abroad. These youths are charmed by the "purity" of its ideals and goals, its brutal and coercive ways, and its defiance of the West. The United States, some "moderate" Arab allies in the Gulf, and some other international players, including Russia, have launched attacks against the ISIS forces to prevent them from further destroying the ancient cultures of Mosul and Palmyra, dedicated by UNESCO as part of the world heritage. Beyond that there does not seem to be any force capable of arresting their advance or checking their universal appeal to Muslims around the world. Israeli's pessimistic conclusion is that ISIS may be contending for power in the Middle East for many years to come, while threatening to become a centre of terrorist activity against the West.

288 pages, Hardcover

Published April 28, 2016

Reviews

[Timothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reviewed by Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi
Middle East Forum
Middle East Quarterly
Winter 2017

Israeli's book reads more like an attempt to cash in on interest in the Islamic State than a serious investigation into the phenomenon. Besides being a re-articulation of the author's own prejudices (e.g., there is no such thing as "moderate Islam"), much of the book comprises rambling disquisitions that provide no insight into the Islamic State; long paraphrases of single articles written and published by others; precious little by way of citations to support his arguments, and virtually no engagement of primary sources in Arabic.

On the subject of the Islamic State, basic errors immediately arise. Ansar al-Shari'a in Libya is aligned with al-Qaeda, and has not pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. The Islamic State did not begin "as a subordinate to [Syrian-based] Jabhat al-Nusra in early 2011." In fact, what was then "the Islamic State of Iraq" played a primary role in establishing Jabhat al-Nusra by dispatching operatives into Syria in mid-2011 with weapons and financial support. Considering that Israeli discusses Nigerian-based Boko Haram at some length, his lack of awareness that the terror group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in March 2015 is baffling.

Stylistically, the book suffers from repetition of content and could have benefited greatly from an editor's clarifying red pen: In a discussion of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, for example, several sentences suggest Mohamed Morsi is still president despite the author's also referring to his overthrow in the July 2013 coup.

This is not the book for readers looking for a good summary of ISIS's global dimensions.